What a Deal! Former athlete, coach returns to Hobart roots

If anyone questioned Mark Deal’s roots in Hobart, they only had to remain through the end of the program Aug. 2 at St. Bridget Catholic Church. Long after the awards program concluded, Deal was still there, chatting with friends and former coaches, in spite of a three-hour drive home to Bloomington.

“It all began here,” Deal said that Sunday at the second annual Kickoff Tailgate Celebration hosted by St. Bridget. Deal spent much of his talk recounting the Hobart roots of himself, his brother Mike, and their father Russ, the famed Hobart football coach and educator who preceded Don Howell in producing Brickie gridiron greatness.

Today Deal is Indiana University assistant athletic director for alumni relations. His background with IU goes back to 1975, when he played center for the Hoosiers football squad through 1978. He then coached on the IU football staff in 1979 and again during 1996-99. He has worked in the IU athletic department since 2000. Deal also coached offensive line at five other schools.

The former all-stater at Hobart High School from 1974 and his brother Mike were inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 2013, joining their dad Russ, a 1976 inductee. The Deal boys also share a distinction in that they have combined for the most Old Oaken Bucket wins over rival Purdue than any other football families.

Since the Hoosiers won the NCAA football national championship, Deal has been a busy guy. In addition to the Hobart talk, Deal has spoken three times in Indianapolis and in Evansville and Jasper. Deal also had the distinction of bringing the national championship trophy to Washington in May for the squad’s meeting with President Trump. In all, Deal has spent 36 years at IU as a player, coach, and administrator, during which he has served under nine head football coaches, nine athletic directors, and five university presidents.

The St. Bridget program served as a prelude to the upcoming high school football season. Dennis Gutowski, a St. Bridget School product, received the Tom Kerr Award for his service in coaching. Coaches from Hobart and Andrean high schools highlighted their programs, with Andrean coming off a 2A state championship and Hobart earning a 4A sectional title.

Deal called the Hobart-Andrean games a “rivalry one of respect.” He recalled the Andrean and Hobart players from his boyhood days in Brickie territory.

The grandson of a coal miner and the son of a World War II veteran, Deal highlighted his father’s career in Hobart, going from the Army to finishing college to becoming a teacher and coach to finally principal of Hobart High School.

Recalling memories from his Hobart boyhood days, Deal noted, “Being a Brickie is living in this wonderful town.” He added, “I leave Hobart, but Hobart never leaves me.”